Over the course of Sunday Old School, we've looked at groups from many countries, some more than others. The United States, Great Britain and Germany have all had quite a large number of bands featured throughout the history of this column, while Greece, Canada, Japan and Brazil have had a respectable number featured too. There are also countries which have only popped up once such as Turkey, Russia, Serbia and India. One country that has only had one of their native bands featured a small number of times is the northern European nation of Denmark, though their number will increase today as we take a look at their best known contribution to the power metal genre, Mercenary.

Mercenary began life in 1991, the brainchild of guitarist Hans Jørgen Andersen, who was joined in his musical endeavour by drummer Jakob Johnsen, singer Henrik "Kral" Andersen and Andreas W. Hansen on bass. The quartet recorded their first demo, "... Domicile" in 1993, with a second demo, "Gummizild" being released the next year, around the same time their song, "One Eyed Beast" appeared on the compilation, "Fuck You, We're From Denmark Vol.3." The demos garnered enough attention for the group to sign with Black Day Records, through whom they released their first EP, "Supremacy" in 1996, although by this point, Kral was the only original member left, taking up bass as well as holding his position as vocalist, with guitar and drum duties being handled by Nikolaj Brinkman, Jakob Mølbjerg and Rasmus Jacobsen respectively. More...

Danish modern metal act Mercenary posted a new music video for the track "Welcome the Sickness." The song appears on the latest album "Through Our Darkest Days," which is available now through NoiseArt Records and Prosthetic Records. The video was directed & produced by Mircea Gabriel Eftemie.

The band commented: "We’re immensely proud to be able to present our new video for ‘Welcome The Sickness.’ It’s been a great and fun experience making this possible through a crowdfunding campaign and interacting with the fans in a whole new way. We are very grateful for the support, as we would never have been able to finance a visit in Denmark’s biggest green screen studio with professional lights and makeup followed by two months of post production on our own. Moreover, we are really really happy with the striking, atmospheric, and visually dramatic way in which director Mircea Eftemie made our musical universe come to life. Without an incredible amount of hard work on his behalf, this video wouldn't have been possible either, so please send a lot of kudos his way."

Danish outfit Mercenary has issued the following announcement about shooting a new music video:

"This weekend we had great fun shooting the footage for the video for 'Welcome the Sickness.' Now all the raw material is in the capable hands of Mr. Mircea Eftemie and we're looking very much forward to seeing the outcome after a month or two of postproduction! Trust us, this stuff going to be awesome.

"For now, here's a goofy shot of band and some of the crew. Thanks so much to all the people involved and the backers who made this great day and the entire project possible for us! Stay tuned for more updates soon!" More...

Mercenary is out on the road with Essence and Omnium Gatherum. The band has now posted the following message online about Essence dropping off the tour:

"It is with great regret that we must inform you that Essence has left our European tour early. Due to health issues the band chose to cancel the rest of the tour. We wish them the best and a speedy recovery.

"On another note - we will be playing Frankfurt this Monday the 9th of September at the Nachtleben club. By mistake this show was not mentioned on our official website even though the show was announced on other social media. We apologize for any confusion and hope to see you there!"

Mercenary has checked in with the following announcement about streaming new song "Generation Hate" online:

"We have decided to share another track from our new album with you all, and this is time it's a hard-hitting S.O.B.! Please check out the song 'Generation Hate' below and let us know what you think.

"Moreover, our pre-orders are now up! Please go to our official webstore at this location to find different awesome packages and special deals, including an extremely limited handmade wooden box + digipack combo!

"And a message to our fans - Your support means a lot to us. If you want to support the band and what we do, you will be doing a real and significant difference by actually buying a physical copy of the album here or elsewhere, rather than downloading it or streaming it. It keeps the wheels turning and enables us to continue to do what we do."

You can also catch the band live on a European headlining run in August and September. Details are available over here. More...

Danish melodic death metal act Mercenary has announced that the band will embark on a headline tour of Europe in support of the forthcoming new LP "Through Our Darkest Days" (out July 26th) beginning August 30th in Germany. Support will come from Finland's Omnium Gatherum and Denmark thrash act Essence.

Prosthetic Records has checked in with the following announcement about offering a new sampler for free download:

"It's summer. What better way to celebrate than rocking out to your favorite music? We here at Prosthetic Records want you to have the heaviest, most crushing music on the block, so not only are we giving you a bunch of free songs from recent releases -- including Holy Grail, Scale the Summit, and Shining -- we're also giving you music from albums that aren't even out yet!

"Yep, we're giving you new music from Swedish underground heroes Darkane, the Danish melo-death black brigade Mercenary and Boston grind/punk thrashers Ramming Speed before anyone can even buy it!

"Did we mention it's completely FREE? What are you waiting for? Head over to the Prosthetic Facebook page and get your free digital sampler now!" More...

Danish melodic death metal act Mercenary is streaming the title track to the band's upcoming new release "Through Our Darkest Days." The album is the band's seventh full length studio release was recorded at Hansen Studios with long time collaborator and friend of the band, the famed producer Jacob Hansen. The album drops on July 26, 2013 via NoiseArt Records.

At the end of this month, the band embarks on a headline tour with Omnium Gatherum, the dates of which can be found at this location.

Danish melodic death metal act Mercenary has announced a European headlining tour in support of upcoming release, “Through Our Darkest Days.” The tour will feature support from Omnium Gatherum - full dates are listed below.

“Through Our Darkest Days,” the group’s seventh studio album, is scheduled for North American release on July 30th via Prosthetic Records. Recorded with longtime collaborator and friend Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Heaven Shall Burn) at Hansen Studios in Denmark, the album will include what the band describes as “a combination of our latest material with a lot of the more traditional melodic and melancholic elements of previous Mercenary albums.”

The album cover art, available below, was completed by Mnemic guitarist Mircea Efrfemie (Soilwork, Illdisposed) and “symbolizes a darkness we have gone through as a band, which we feel we have finally been able to put behind us. The title of the album is meant very positively and thematizes both the journey through existential darkness as a general theme and the ability to break through it. The lyrical universe is very much about making the most of life and not getting caught up in negativity.”

After having played tours in Japan and the band's home country of Finland to promote new album "Beyond," Omnium Gatherum is now ready to hit the European roads again this August/September along with Danish act Mercenary. The currently confirmed dates are:

Danish melodic death metal act Mercenary announced that work on the band's seventh album is complete. The album will be entitled "Through Our Darkest Days." Mixing was completed on April 23, 2013 at Hansen Studios with long time collaborator/producer Jacob Hansen. The album is set for release through NoiseArt Records on July 27th (EU) and a week later in the US via Prosthetic Records.

The album's cover artwork (shown below) was created by Mircea Eftemie (guitarist of Mnemic), who recently created covers for Soilwork, Illdisposed and others.

The band commented on the cover: “Last year when we were busy with pre-productions, we considered reaching out to Mircea to ask if he'd like to give our new cover a shot, because we liked his recent stuff and wanted to try someone with a fresh approach. Against all odds, however, he actually beat us to it and contacted us first with the exact same offer, so it very much seemed as a collaboration that was meant to be.

"After a few sketches, we quickly locked on to the main motive of the cover below, which we felt was both iconic, mysterious and not least, oddly disturbing. Most importantly perhaps, we also felt that Mircea's artwork had managed in a natural way to combine something fresh with the style of our older album covers and their dark and atmospheric vibes.

"As our new album is very much a combination our latest material with a lot of the more traditional melodic and melancholic elements of previous Mercenary albums, we felt that this was a perfect visual expression of Mercenary's sound and identity in 2013.

The cover symbolizes a darkness that we have gone through as a band, which we feel that we have finally been able to put behind us. The title of the album is meant very positively and thematizes both the journey through existential darkness as a general theme and the ability to break through it. The lyrical universe is very much about making the most of life and not getting caught up in negativity.” More...

Danish modern metal act Mercenary posted the second in a series of in studio videos featuring the recordings for the new album, yet untitled, which is due out on July 26, 2013 via Noiseart Records. More details on the album are expected soon. The first report can still be viewed over at this location.

Denmark's Mercenary has posted performance footage online featuring the band playing "The Black Brigade," which can be found below. Mercenary also commented:

"We're happy to announce our first show in 2013 at the new 'Beastival' on May 30th - 1st of June 2013 in Geiselwind (Germany) with among others Kreator, Wintersun & Satyricon. More info at this website.

"Moreover, we're happy to present a small special something for you in the form of a 'fan-made' road video for the track 'The Black Brigade' filmed in the summer of 2012. It was made by our friend, Don G, whom we've previously cooperated with for the cover of 'Metamorphosis.'

"He kindly filmed and edited the vid for his own sake but we thought it was way too cool not to share with you. More footage from the Basinfire Festival (Cz) performance will be used for another video coming in early 2013 - and who knows, maybe we'll also have some cool info on a new album by then... Until then, enjoy a roadtrip with The Black Brigade!" More...

Danish metallers Mercenary have issued the following update about working on a new album and lining up festival appearances:

"Things are busy at Camp Mercenary these days! We are currently recording the pre-production of our 7th album, which is a very exiting process, and since the release of 'Metamorphosis' in February 2011 we have been touring massively and we have a lot of great experiences under the hood already with this line-up.

"In March we went to Russia for the first time ever and played a headlining show for a venue filled with exited and anticipating Russian fans. (See short video documentary below) All in all, we are truly grateful for the warm welcome we have received, and we look forward to many more great experiences with all our amazing fans!

"The plan for the summer tour is ready, and it is with great pleasure that we can announce that Mercenary has been confirmed for the following festivals in 2012:

Mercenary will be heading out for two Russian live shows in March, and the band has also begun writing new material for an upcoming release. Mercenary commented:

"We're happy and proud to kick off 2012 in a great way by announcing our first ever shows in Russia this March! We are psyched about performing in both Moscow and St. Petersburg - and to sample large quantities of the excellent and cheap vodka! Russian Tour Dates:

"Moreover, we have begun to meet up this month to write new material for the follow-up to 'Metamorphosis' from 2011. We feel that this new incarnation of Mercenary got off to a perfect start last year with great response from fans and the press and a lot of great shows, not least two amazing tours with (among others) Symphony X, Nevermore and Dark Tranquillity. We can't wait to write and release the next album and get out on the road again!

"The most perceptive of our fans might have noticed that we have only been joined by drummer Morten Løwe for a few shows in 2011. Morten was unable to commit to our touring schedule, so we had the excellent drummer Peter Mathiesen fill in. As we have a great chemistry with him musically and personally, we have asked him to join the band as a regular member. He has already played more than 50 shows with us and is well integrated in the band, so please give him a warm welcome and buy him a beer the next time we play in your hometown!

Finland's Omnium Gatherum has checked in with the following update about the band's upcoming tour dates:

"Hello folks, after the hot rockin' awesome & successful festival summer and European tour with Rotting Christ, Omnium Gatherum will hit the European shores with 'Neckbreakers Ball 2011' European tour trek together with Dark Tranquillity / Eluveitie / Mercenary / Varg / Gurd and before that OG will do a 12-date extensive Finnish co-headlining run together with the fellow Finns, Medeia."

San Francisco thrash metal veterans Death Angel have posted the following statement online, announcing their decision to pull out of the upcoming "Neckbreaker's Ball" European tour.

"Due to what we feel is an incredible opportunity that has arisen for the band, Death Angel is forced to pull out of this year's Neckbreaker's Ball. We are not at liberty to discuss the details just yet, but as soon as we are, another announcement will be made and we hope that all of our true fans, any true metal fan really, will understand our decision. We will miss the opportunity to once again rock out for European fans, but we will make it up to you in the New Year with a surprise live set and tour that will blow your minds!"

The tour is set to feature appearances from Dark Tranquillity, Eluveitie, Varg, Mercenary and Omnium Gatherum. The dates for the tour are listed below. More...